COLUMBUS, OH — The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) has approved over $1.2 million in rail crossing safety enhancements across three counties, with a significant upgrade slated for the South North Street grade crossing in Washington Court House, Fayette County, according to an announcement made on Wednesday, May 14, 2025, at 11:30 AM EDT. The project, set to be completed by February 14, 2026, will see the Indiana & Ohio Railway Company install flashing lights, gates, and surface reconstruction, funded by a $420,315 federal grant.
This initiative is part of a broader effort to bolster safety at Ohio’s public grade crossings. In Wyandot County, the Chicago Fort Wayne & Eastern Railroad will upgrade the S.R. 293 and Main Street crossing in Kirby with flashing lights and gates by May 14, 2026, supported by $307,173 in federal funds. Similarly, the Belpre Industrial Parkersburg Railroad will enhance the Pomeroy Pike crossing in Belpre, Washington County, with a $509,506 federal investment, also due by May 14, 2026.
To ensure safety during construction, local governments can apply to the PUCO for up to $5,000 per project from the State Grade Crossing Safety Fund for additional improvements like rumble strips or better signage. The PUCO’s ongoing evaluations have significantly reduced train-motor vehicle crashes in Ohio, dropping from 356 in 1990 to 77 in 2023.
For questions about rail crossings, Ohioans can contact the Ohio Rail Hotline at (866) 814-RAIL (7245) or visit gradecrossings.puco.ohio.gov. Details of the approved upgrades, including case numbers 25-491-RR-FED, 25-481-RR-FED, and 25-478-RR-FED, are available on the PUCO website at www.PUCO.ohio.gov under the Docketing Information System.
